Recognizing Signs of Fall

Recognizing Signs of fall

By recognizing signs of fall, you’ll know how to care for your trees in late summer and early fall.

The calendar says the first day of Fall 2019 is Monday, September 29 – the Fall equinox, when day and night are equal lengths.

For our Bower & Branch Growers and our tree planting customers and fans, fall actually takes place so much earlier. Growers learn to see the early signs of the coming season change, signs and signals provided by the trees for sale on the nursery and in our landscapes.

Generally around early to mid August in the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and the upper Midwest, tree growth stops and the season of preparing for winter begins. As you move further south, the change in season happens later of course, but still, the change happens well before fall officially ‘kicks in.’

How Trees Signal Fall:

New young growth comes to a full stop.

Leaves begin to lose the glossy, fresh, new appearance.

Trees surrender to leaf spots and leaf diseases, allowing some leaves to even drop to reduce water requirements while the summer sun is still high is the sky.

A small percent of the leaves begin to show signs of fall color and some leaves are actually going dormant and food is being stored already.

Growers Know

On the nursery, growers can delay the start of fall and extend the growing season for a few weeks at best, if desired, but only a few weeks. Eventually, fall will win out and growth will cease.

In the landscape and garden, it is much more difficult to control the environment and extend the season.

Growing in the Fall

Expect leaf spots and leaf drop: It is time to stop demanding perfect spring like leaves, allow your tree to rest and prepare for winter.

Fall Fertilizing: Every Fall, on the first day of fall, in northern states and in the south, on Halloween, get out and fertilize your trees and plants! Our Growers have set the dates, do what the experts do! Learn about Bower & Branch Elements® Fertilizer.

Care Beds: Care beds done with our Elements® Composition Planting Mix are very important to trees. Like any other garden, the cleaner and less competition from other plants, the better results we can expect. Clean gardens equal less pests, less work and better health.